WORLD BRIEFING / CANADA

Harper resisting plan

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, fighting to stay in power, promised in a rare televised address to use "every legal means" to block an opposition plan to replace his minority Conservative government after a confidence vote.

Harper today is expected to ask Governor General Michaelle Jean to suspend Parliament until his newly reelected government delivers a budget Jan. 27.

If the opposition succeeds, it will be the first time that a Canadian government has been ousted in a confidence vote and replaced by an opposition coalition without an election.